new GPS ... garmin, lowrance or magellan

[jeffryscott]

Looking at models like the Garmin GPSmap 60, Lowrance iFinder's or the Magellan Explorist (210 or above). I don't mind b&w screens, more interested in the quality of the topo software. I want minimum of 24 (22 in Magellan's case) of onboard memory or an SD card.

 

I already own Garmin topo software, albeit older, and am not terribly impressed on my GPS V so I'm not necessarily wedded to staying with Garmin, although I like their GPS designs the best. My old Magellan Meridian had better topos with greater detail and I don't know anything about the Lowrance Mapcreate.

 

I'm sure the newer software for all of the above are better than the three or four year old versions I have, but would like voices of experience with the positives and negatives of each.

 

Thanks.

[+embra]

Here are some side-by-side comparisons of a particular spot. If maps are the highest priority for you, you may want to consider the Delorme PN-20/Topo USA combo.

[+Indotguy]

I'm not familiar with Garmin's topo mapping software but I am with Lowrance's. A few years ago I switched from a Magellan Meridian Gold to a Lowrance iFinder H20 and I have never regretted the change. In my opinion Lowrance has better maps although the Lowrance map software can be a bit buggy at time.

[gallet]

I don't mind b&w screens...am not terribly impressed on my GPS V so I'm not necessarily wedded to staying with Garmin, although I like their GPS designs the best.

 

I don't know anything about magellan or but if you like Garmin then forget about their older stuff because the new H series are awesome.

 

Regarding your comments about b/w. You may not mind b/w but don't necessarily assume things about it. For instance it's easy to assume that b/w will have better battery life and battery life is an important consideration. The new colour models have better battery life with colour screens and electronic compasses than the older plain jane b/w models!

 

Don't be fooled by the ever so slightly larger screen on the map60 series compared to the etrex because the amount of pixel resolution is the same so you don't get any more clarity you just need to hold the eTrex about 1" closer and it is the same. But there have been complaints about the lack of brightness on the 60 screens compared to the eTrex's. And not only is the screen not as bright but the 60's use more battery power.

 

What I'm saying is that Garmin really makes it confusing by mixing and matching features. You may not want expandable memory but you should get it anyway if only because those units have better battery life.

 

In short if you like Garmin then you should select the eTrex VistaHCx as the benchmark and compare any other ones you are thinking about to that. Above all don't discount a unit because it has a feature you don't need as it will usually be bundled with a feature that is very desireable.

 

With regards to which maps are better I'll leave that up to others.

 

$0.02

[+TrailGators]

Looking at models like the Garmin GPSmap 60, Lowrance iFinder's or the Magellan Explorist (210 or above). I don't mind b&w screens, more interested in the quality of the topo software. I want minimum of 24 (22 in Magellan's case) of onboard memory or an SD card.

 

I already own Garmin topo software, albeit older, and am not terribly impressed on my GPS V so I'm not necessarily wedded to staying with Garmin, although I like their GPS designs the best. My old Magellan Meridian had better topos with greater detail and I don't know anything about the Lowrance Mapcreate.

 

I'm sure the newer software for all of the above are better than the three or four year old versions I have, but would like voices of experience with the positives and negatives of each.

 

Thanks.

Magellan just came out with a Triton series that has a high sensitivity GPS chip and it accepts National Geographic topos, which are the best topos IMHO.

[jeffryscott]

Here are some side-by-side comparisons of a particular spot. If maps are the highest priority for you, you may want to consider the Delorme PN-20/Topo USA combo.

 

Thanks, that helps a lot. Looks like the new Garmin Topo 2008 is much improved over my version, but without a doubt the Delorme is best visually and most detailed.

 

I'll probably stick with the Garmin (I just spent many hours converting my maps with the Garmin beta to work on Mac) and if that works well, then I won't have to support two different platforms. Now, for which one.

 

Cost is definitely a factor, and I'm trying to balance out my real world uses and needs versus my wants.

 

Thanks again everybody.

[+hogrod]

Looks like the new Garmin Topo 2008 is much improved over my version, but without a doubt the Delorme is best visually and most detailed.

You should probably check garmins online map viewer for topo 2008, that way you can compare areas you are familiar with. I owned the old topo US 3.02 and now topo 2008, It is much improved over the old version.

 

One thing with topo 2008, it uses different contour levels in different areas. where I live topo 2008 has 10ft contour levels, yet the rest of my state uses 25ft contours. I was checking the map out in Washington state near Wenatchee and noticed it is only using 150ft contours.

 

The map viewer is in the upper right of this page.

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/topous.jsp#

Edited September 5, 2007 by hogrod

[jeffryscott]

I went with the GPSmap 60 ... decided that for $99 (refurb) it was an inexpensive entree into a modern upgrade to my GPS V.